A dentist has urged people to introduce one quick habit after every meal and drink to help ensure the health of their teeth, especially while the festive season is still under way. All the preparation, joy and chaos of Christmas Day is over for another year, but many people are still making the most of the excuse to celebrate, especially on New Year ’s Eve.

With the potential for parties, meals out, and all manner of other celebrations and events to ring in 2026, our teeth can be put through the ringer. Lots of festive foods and sparkling beverages can contribute to damage to our teeth, with some favourites responsible for a “dental emergency”.

With this in mind, Dr Mala Sabharwal is keen for people to implement one simple habit into their routine - and it has to be done before you go to brush your teeth.

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The dentist warned the team at Fresha that “certain festive food and drinks” cause “more damage than you might think”.

She said: “A common mistake which thousands are unaware of is that when indulging in sugary or acidic foods and drinks, it’s important to rinse your mouth with water straight away rather than brushing immediately, giving your teeth time to recover from the acid.”

Rectifying this “mistake” by rinsing your mouth out with water can help protect your teeth, diluting the harmful acids present in many foods and drinks.

It can also contribute to reducing enamel erosion and the risk of tooth decay.

Of the most potentially problematic foods the dentist sees over the festive period, Dr Mala explained: “Toffees are a big culprit and a cause for many that go to the dental emergency over December - I’d advise avoiding these and the likes of the chocolate éclair.

“The risks of these sweet treats is that they can pull out certain types of fillings and old crowns.”

She continued: “While indulging in sugary foods is a part of the celebrations, when you do decide to eat these foods, it’s important to drink lots of water after to try and offset the sugar.”

The dentist said “avoiding snacking and grazing on sugary foods” can further help reduce sugar’s harmful effects and encourages people to drink water “immediately after a main meal”.

Dr Mala added: “The same water technique applies to mulled wine, as the acidity in the drink can damage the enamel of your tooth if sipped upon slowly - being mindful and sipping on water in between can help offset this.”

The dentist recommends “using a straw where possible to bypass the teeth” and reduce the potential for stains.

For those especially concerned about negatively impacting the colour of their pearly whites, the dentist advises “limiting any cups of coffee to three per day” while also “considering your drink of choice, for example, red [wine] stains more than white.”

The impact of sugar on the teeth - and how to counteract it - is echoed by dentists on social media, with one advising people to ensure they don’t spread out their sugar consumption throughout the day and instead tuck into a chocolate bar in one go.